Jason Hanson retires

Posted by Michael David Smith on April 4, 2013, 4:08 PM EDT

AP

Jason Hanson, the longtime Lions kicker who is the NFL’s longest-serving active player and the player who has played in more games for one team than any other player in NFL history, has decided to call it a career.

The 42-year-old Hanson told DetroitLions.com that he is not 100 percent healthy and thought a foot injury was going to keep him from playing at his best.

“It was time to make a decision,” Hanson said. “It was the right time to step away. “Ultimately, it’s my heel – the problem I developed last year. Now that we’re starting a new year, it’s still an issue. I have the desire. I have the determination, as I said earlier, to come back. Each time I’d start to push it, I’d kind of short-circuit. I realized that at this point of my career, I don’t want to perform in a compromised way. It’s not good for the team. I lost a little of my desire to play injured.”

Hanson owns the NFL records for most career 50-yard field goals (51) and most games played with one team (327). He’ll go down in history as one of the best kickers ever to play the game.

Hanson has always been one of the best Kickers in the league and he will go out with records that will be very hard for any other player to beat. 327 games with one team is amazing. 51/50+ yard Field Goals is also an amazing accomplishment. Its going to be a long time before anyone ever touches his records. Good Luck with retirement Jason!

Before we all vote to enshrine him, we need to hear how many of those 50 yd fgs were made outdoors and how many fgs were game winners. With the Lions as bad as they were for all those years, I can’t imagine many of his kicks were pressure packed.

Class guy who deserved a better fate than all the years of losing. I hope this truly was a personal decision, and not a decision driven by the Lions trying to lowball him on his contract. If he still wants to play, perhaps the heel will heal in time for him to still take part in this season.

You never saw Jason Hanson sitting on the bench during games. When he wasn’t on the field he was constantly working out on the sidelines, either licking into the net or simply rehersing his motions; even down to that little shrug just before he took his first step. Without a doubt the hardest working player in franchise history. Thanks for a great effort Jason.

As a Lions fan, this scares me. We have so many pieces in place…and I hate to be pescimistic but I could see our team doing great and then lose a few games by a missed FG and then miss the playoffs. Hanson might be old but he was a guy you could almost always count on. With our team always having close games, I sure hope they looked at Hanson as more than just a replaceable kicker…because he is not. It would be different if he had a year like Akers just did…but he did not.

Jason Hanson was a class act, and was money throughout his entire career. He still has a huge leg and could have hung on to kick a few more years, but obviously wants to enjoy life while he’s still young. Best of look, good sir!!

As a Bears fan, I have always respected Hanson for the talent and class he brought to the city of Detroit. It is hard to believe that he was a rookie when the Bears still had Kevin Butler. Jan Stenerud should have a fellow kicker next to him in the HOF one day.

One has to laugh at the childish remarks by the trash talkers above. They have no clue he made more money than all of them combined. He was humble in his playing days staying on one team and is a shoe in for the HOF. Coming from a Viking fan, I commend his loyalty staying with the Lions during good seasons and the bad ones. Best of luck on your future!

One of the few bright spots the Lions have had through the years. Dependable, accurate, everything you want in a kicker. Any time a career lasts that long, you know you’re one of the elite in your job.

As a Vikes fan, much respect to Jason Hanson. You keep the NFC North THE best divison in the NFL.

I am sad he didn’t get a truly amazing winning season. But the fact is this is what is best for the Lions. They can’t afford a 2 mil cap hit on a kicker that isn’t 100% healthy and is a liability on kick offs when we have issues with special teams.

He’s basically what every player should aspire to. Just go out and do your job. Do it well. Score the 3rd most points in NFL history. Classy. Doesn’t complain. Loyal to a team that might be tough to be loyal to. Congrats!

Classy, durable, dependable and highly skilled. The only thing that Jason Hanson didn’t have was the luck to be drafted by a smart, focused organization that put forth a true commitment to the pursuit of excellence. The Lion’s foolish organization robbed him and their fan base of an opportunity to know the thrill of meaningful kicks, consistent playoff berths and championship drives. Jason deserved greater acclaim and more fun in his career. I’m disappointed to see him go without having the chance to contribute to some real success here in Detroit. Best of luck to you, Jason. Maybe a team with a legit SB chance will call midseason with an untimely injury and a last opportunity for glory.

As a Redskins fan in the Detroit TV market area I was always jealous that they have had basically 2 kickers for most of my life. Eddie Murry was a long time kicker before Hanson. I think most would be shocked if you compared the 2 kickers that Detroit has had in the last 30 years compared to every other NFL team. Hopefully Detroit continues that trend, cause the alternative isn’t much fun.

My family was staying in Appleton, WI a few years ago on a snowy December Saturday night. My daughter and I wandered over to the Paper Valley Hotel to see if we could spot any Lions who were playing the Packers the next day. There was a small group of about 10-15 Lions faithful with cards and programs and such to sign and a few Lions stopped to sign a few things before heading out to the “action” on College Ave. Jason Hanson stayed longer, signed more and was friendlier than anyone else. My daughter asked if he was really a football player. I said yep- he just doesn’t act like one. Great guy.

The one position for 22yrs we NEVER had to draft or worry about and we took for grant that you would always be there when the team turn the corner……..Good Luck JH in your retirement we’ll miss you G.O.A.T. kicker….smile.

As a lifelong Vikings fan, I have nothing but respect and admiration for Jason Hanson. Hanson is a a class act that will be sorely missed in the NFC North and the entire NFL. It takes a special kind of guy to stick it out through so many tough years in Detroit. It must kill him to retire just as they seem to have a good chance at being competitive. My hat is off to you sir, enjoy your retirement…..it was well earned. I truly hope to see you in Canton, but I’m not going to hold my breath.